Cougars shutout again by Kernels

The Kane County Cougars (11-23, 44-60) got shutout Friday night, 4-0, by the Cedar Rapids Kernels (21-13, 57-46). The Cougars have not scored in over 19 innings as the Kernels leave Geneva with a three-game series sweep.

The last time the Cougars were shutout in consecutive contests was July 13th and 15th against Great Lakes and South Bend in 2009. In Friday night's contest, the Cougars only managed 3 hits.

A lack of offense was not helped by a short-start from Jose Almonte (0-3). Almonte's 4-walk performance was lengthened by the Kernels offense that managed 10 hits. The offensive highlight was a seventh inning solo home run from Luis Arraez, the only round-tripper of the series. Overall, the Cougars have now lost their last four contests against Cedar Rapids.

Aormer Red Sox prospect, Almonte was tagged for his first run in the second frame. J.J. Fernandez laced a 1-out double setting the table for Sean Miller, whose single through the right side made it 1-0 Kernels. It was Miller's second RBI of the series.

Almonte settled down in the following inning, but his struggled resurfaced in the fourth. Allowing back-to-back walks with 2 outs, Casey Scoggins shot a 2-run double to deep right field gracing the Kernels with a 3-run cushion. Adding insult to injury, the Kernels touched up reliever Austin Mason (2-0) for a home run in the seventh as Luis Arraez found the patio past right to up the advantage to four runs.

Credit also has to be given to the effectiveness of Cedar Rapids starter, right-hander Eddie Del Rosario (3-2). Earning his third win in his last four starts, Del Rosario struck out 11 Cougars, at least one in each of the 6 scoreless innings he worked. He handed the effort to Williams Ramirez (2-1) who struck out 2 in 2 innings of work.

Del Rosario picked up the finale series win for the Kernels, as Almonte suffered his third loss in four starts for the Cougars.